The Boy Across The Bay

Chapter 4

It was the morning after the gala, and Harry didn't get a wink of sleep. His mind was constantly on one person.

Louis.

He needed to get his mind off of him somehow.

His mother told him that she arranged for Eloise to join them for a friendly game of croquet this afternoon. That should stop him from thinking about Louis.

⋯

The king and queen, along with Harry and Eloise, were out in the courtyard playing a round of croquet.

Niall was there too. He wasn't able to make it to the gala last night because he had been in Ireland visiting family for the past 6 months and only just returned this morning. He and Harry have been the best of friends ever since they met in primary school. They've been joined at the hip ever since.

"Ni! How was your trip back home?" Harry asked as he went in for a hug.

"It was absolutely wonderful Haz! I almost didn't want to come back, but I knew I couldn't be away from my best mate for long...and I needed to meet your new fiancé! I was just chatting with your parents and they told me the gala was successful. Where's the lovely future bride of the legendary Harry Styles, Miss. Eloise Hart?!" Niall questioned with excitement in his voice.

"Ah yes! I couldn't bear the thought of being away from my Nialler for very long!" Harry smiled at him. "Yes, in fact she is right over there!" Harry pointed behind him to where Eloise was making her move in the croquet game. "Ellie! Come here darling! Niall wants to meet you!" Harry called out to Ellie.

As Eloise made her way to the two young men, Niall turned to whisper in Harry's ear, "Ellie? Nicknames already?! Wow, that must be true love!"

Harry's shoulders stiffened. "No! Well—We just get on really well, have since we first met! It's nothing really..."

Niall gave him a confused look.

"Ellie, dear, meet Niall Horan, my best mate since primary school! And Niall, meet Eloise Hart...my future bride." Harry introduced the two.

Eloise stretched her arm out to Niall. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Horan. I've heard so much about you. Even though I've only known Harry for 12 hours, he sure speaks very highly about you!" She giggled as Niall took her hand in his and kissed it.

"Enchanté Miss. Hart. I hope the future heirs to the throne will be just as beautiful as their mother." Niall said, with a wink and a smile.

Eloise blushed at Niall's compliment. They smiled back at each other, staring into each other's eyes. "Oh please call me Ellie! A friend of Harry's is a friend of mine! And I'm not that beautiful," She said as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and smiled.

"Ah! On the contrary! You must be the most beautiful woman in all of England! And you can call me Niall." Said Niall still smiling back at Eloise.

The rest of the afternoon, Niall and Eloise couldn't keep their eyes off one another. They were constantly smiling and giggling. It was like they were in their own world. And Harry wasn't in it.

At some point they started to notice Harry's distance from them, so Ellie decided to ask him what was wrong. "Harry, are you alright? You've been very distant from your parents and Niall and I, all afternoon."

"Yes! I—It's nothing..." Harry lied. Ellie could see straight through it and gave him a knowing look. "Really it's nothing. I mean, you and Niall are hitting it off and I couldn't ask for anything less! It's just— am I boring?"

Ellie gave him a confused look. "What do you mean Harry? You are a very intelligent and interesting individual!"

"I just—somebody told me I'm too uptight and should 'let loose' once in a while," Harry confessed.